REEVES PREPARES FOR U-15 NATIONALS

For immediate Release: July 30, 2009

Kamloops, BC—If there is anyone who might have a home court advantage at the 2009 Canadian U-15 Basketball Championship, it would be Scott Reeves. 

Reeves is the head coach of the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack women’s basketball program.  The championship is being played on the court he knows best: the Tournament Capital Center.

“It might be a bit of an advantage at the start for me,” he laughs  “But I won’t be the one out there on the court.”

Reeves, who is also the founder of the Kamloops Basketball Academy, is the coach of one of the two BC girls entries: Team Blue.   This is his second year coaching the U-15 program.  Last August, he directed Team BC to a silver medal finish: losing out to Ontario in the final.

He is confident of his team’s growth over the past few months of training. “We have been building towards Nationals and we are peaking at the right time,” he explains.  “We need to cover some defensive adjustments and fine tune some offensive sets but other than that, we are playing well right now.”

How would he compare Team BC 2009 to the one last year?.  “ We are going to have to rely much more on the team than any one individual player.” Reeves  says.  “Lat year, we had two of the better players in the country that were chosen to play on our cadet National team.  We could rely on those kids to make plays.  This year, we have a more balanced attack.”

Reeves has been involved in the Team BC program for the last 12 years: from team selection to running Regional Training Centers and Camps.  Being dedicated to the development of the sport is something he takes pride in.  “Having an impression on young kids that can shape the type of player and person they become is definitely the highlight for me.” He states.

Team BC Blue opens the Nationals Tuesday August 4 th against Nova Scotia.  For the second year in a row, the team features a Kamoops player.  Last season it was Taiysa Worsfold of Sa-hali. This time around, it’s Emma Wolfram who transferred from Sa-hali to South Kamloops.   Reeves believes she will have a few butterflies for that 9 am game.  But what about himself?  “I always have a little nerves eventough I have been in these situations a number of times.  The competitor in me wants to perform and when you are on a National stage, there’s no bigger place to perform.”

Win or lose at the 2009 Nationals, Reeves believes his experience this summer with the U15 Team BC program will be beneficial for his development as a coach.  “Working with these girls always brings me back to how to communicate with young people and put things in terms they can understand.”

What the Coach believes they’ll learn most is the pride of working hard while representing their city and province.

DOUBLE DRIBBLES:  The tournament runs until August 8 th.  There are 16 teams (boys and girls) from as far away as Newfoundland taking part.  Team BC has two teams in both the boys and the girls divisions.  One other Kamloops player,  Abby Grinberg (guard, Kamloops Christian School) is on Team BC Red.

Tickets are available at the Tournament Capital Center during the event (Aug4-8). Day passes are $8.00 for adults, $ 5.00 for students and seniors. Elementary students get in for $ 2.00 with those under six getting in free.  Tournament Passes are $ 30.00 for adults, $20.00 for seniors and students. Elementary Students have a $5.00 day pass.

Larry Read
Sports Information Officer
Thompson Rivers University
900 McGill Road, P.O. Box 3010
Kamloops, BC, Canada V2C 5N3
(250) 377-6117 (office)
(250) 371-5672 (fax)
lread@tru.ca
(250) 819-5255 (blackberry)

(with information from TRU Athletics)